Hunt, O'Connor not quick fixes: Genia

Will Genia has tempered the onset of expectation with the signing of James O'Connor and Karmichael Hunt, saying the addition of two high-profile players won't be a panacea for the errors that saw the Reds plummet down the Super Rugby ladder last season.

Genia, who will return to rugby via the NRC on the weekend after a three-month injury break, said O'Connor and Hunt represented excellent recruits for the Reds and expected both to add firepower to a backline that was crippled by injuries and poor execution in 2014.

James O'Connor would look good on the wing for the Reds, according to Will Genia. Photo: Getty Images

But he said that duo shouldn't be seen as a cure-all for issues that the Reds confronted over the course of the season, including a defence that went from one of the best in Super Rugby to a problem child.

"I think a lot of the things we need to fix are team issues. Defence, we leaked a few too many tries at certain stages. We'll go back to the drawing board and work hard on rectifying those issues," Genia said.

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"Rugby is a team game - two people aren't going to come in and fix everything that didn't go right during the season."

Genia is always reliable for a dose of reality but is hugely enthusiastic about the arrival of Hunt and O'Connor at Ballymore. Aside from Hunt's maturity and ability to lead a group, Genia said it would give the Reds quality out wide, with Hunt likely to be deployed at 15 and O'Connor on the wing.

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"It gives us options, it gives us attacking flair and a bit of X-factor. Karmichael is being looked at as a fullback, someone that carries the ball back hard and gets us over the advantage line," he said.

"James, I think, plays his best football on the wing where he's a great ball-runner and a great threat but can pop up at first, second receiver any time."

"I've got 40 minutes this week and whatever happens, happens. If I end up playing the whole season of the NRC then that's what happens. I haven't really spoken to Ewen (McKenzie) ... I'm just looking forward to playing."